LAST-MINUTE Week 2 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Advice! Actives/Inactives & Q&A (09/14 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

Fantasy Football Today: LAST-MINUTE Week 2 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Advice – September 14, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Fantasy Football Today focuses on last-minute Week 2 lineup decisions, highlighting injury updates, key start/sit advice, and rapid-fire listener Q&A to help fantasy football managers dominate their leagues. Hosted by Adam Aizer with analyst Heath Cummings, the show zeroes in on big-name players' statuses, pivots for questionable stars, and trusted projections to optimize your starting lineup.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brock Bowers' Monday Night Game-Time Decision

Timestamps: 00:00–03:12

• Brock Bowers is questionable with the Chargers on Monday. Pete Carroll "expects him to play," but skepticism remains due to Carroll's history of overoptimistic injury updates.

• Heath’s risk management advice:

  • "If you can, add Michael Mayer as insurance. If Bowers sits, Mayer is a top-6 tight end this week." [01:22]
  • If Mayer isn’t available, other Monday night TEs (Tyler Conklin, Cade Otton, Dalton Schultz) are desperation options.
  • Heath:

    “If Brock Bowers plays, I’ve got him projected to outscore everybody besides McBride by 3, 5, 6 fantasy points... He has the upside to outscore them by 15. How much are you willing to take that chance?” [01:42]

• Adam:

  "Usually when a coach says 'I expect him to play,' that's enough for me. But it is Pete Carroll... 70% seems high to me for the Coach Speak Index." [02:06]

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2. 49ers’ Lineup and Desperation WRs

Timestamps: 03:12–04:38

• Juwan Jennings is expected to play, but left tackle Trent Williams is a game-time decision. If Jennings plays, Pearsall drops to a WR3 range, with Jennings a "desperation flex at best."
  • "If Jennings is active, I drop Pearsall down into the WR3 range, probably close to WR30." – Heath [03:59]

3. Patriots RB Room Shakeup

Timestamps: 04:38–05:13

• Patriots’ RB snaps may change.
  • Trayvon Henderson remains a strong RB2 with upside.

    “Henderson is the definition of a borderline number two running back with considerable upside.” – Heath [04:51]

  • No major downgrades yet.

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4. Browns & Other Important Backfields

Timestamps: 05:49–06:45

• Browns’ Quinton Judkins will play but be on a snap count.
  • Heath: "Judkins is not in my top 36, right behind Chubb. He’s someone you want rostered, not started." [06:00]
  • Dylan Sampson is a borderline RB2, especially in PPR.

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5. Pass-Catcher & WR Decisions

Timestamps: 06:45–08:03

• Dallas Goedert out: Start DeVonta Smith, top 24 WR [06:51]
• Xavier Worthy out: Smith over Marquise Brown. Concerns for Marquise Brown versus Adoree Jackson, who "struggled" last week.
• Darnell Mooney & Drake London will play, but Mooney is strictly stash territory, not a start. Pitts slides down, "should probably have him on the bench." – Heath [07:42]
• When asked about TE streamers over Kyle Pitts:
  • "I'd start the two streaming tight ends [Juwan Johnson, etc.] over Pitts." – Heath [08:12]

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6. Quick Updates & Week 2 Notes

Timestamps: 08:03–08:51

• Evan Engram will play.
• Caution on Tyler Badet despite passing game talk; Heath jokes:
  • "He had six targets last week, picked up four yards. We want to do that more?" [08:47]
• Avoid RJ Harvey as a fantasy play.
• Younghoe Koo inactive; don't start him.

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Listener Q&A Rapid-Fire: Start/Sit and Flex Choices

Timestamps: 08:51–12:19

• Cam Ward or Spencer Rattler?

  • Heath: "I have Rattler for 16.1 points, Cam for .8... flip a coin, or a penny." [09:21]

• Start Two (Montgomery, Javonte Williams, Dylan Sampson, George Pickens – PPR):

  • "Full PPR, start Sampson and Pickens." – Heath [09:51]

• Tony Pollard vs. Courtland Sutton (Flex):

  • "Go with Pollard." [10:14]

• Ken Walker vs. Javonte Williams:

  • "Javonte." – Heath [10:22]

• Two in non-PPR (Chubb, Swift, Stevenson):

  • "Definitely Swift, and I will go with Chubb." [10:31]

• Two WRs non-PPR (Coleman, TMac, Olave):

  • "Definitely TMac." (Adam adds: "I'll go Olave.") [10:37]

• Montgomery or Henderson (Full PPR):

  • "Henderson." [10:47]

• RJ Harvey & Drake London for Rashi Rice & Trey McBride – trade:

  • "I like that deal... If you're 2-0, see if Rashi Rice is available." – Heath [11:03]

• Shahid or Tillman (PPR):

  • "I'll go Tillman." [11:21]

• Jordan Mason or Pittman:

  • "Mason." [11:26]

• Fields or Burrow, 4-pt/pass TD:

  • "Boost for Fields, but I'll still take Burrow." [11:36]

• Kayshon Boutte or Cedric Tillman:

  • "Tillman." [11:42]

• Javonte Williams or DeVonta Smith:

  • "Smith." [11:53]

• Pickens or Juwan Johnson (TE premium):

  • Depends: "If you get two points/TE catch, Johnson. If 1.5, Pickens." [11:56]

• Abuka or Pearsall:

  • "If Jennings is active, Abuka. If not, Pearsall." [12:07]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Heath on Bowers’ risk:

  "How much are you willing to take that chance? I’m not going to sit Brock Bowers." [01:42]

• On Coach Speak Index:

  "70% seems high to me for the coach Speak index." – Adam [02:06]

• On answering deep QB start/sit:

  "Flip a coin. Don’t waste a quarter on it. See if you have any pennies lying around." – Heath [09:21]

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Important Timestamps

• Injury/actives update and Brock Bowers: 00:00–03:12
• WR/TE pivot advice: 03:12–04:38, 06:45–08:03
• Browns RBs and Judkins snap count: 05:49–06:45
• Listener Q&A Rapid-Fire: 08:51–12:19

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Summary

This week's FFT Express keeps the advice tight and actionable, with a focus on the pressing decisions for Week 2. The big storyline is Brock Bowers’ Monday night question mark and risk management. Key RBs and WRs are discussed for pivot options, with lots of clarity on how to handle injuries and last-minute lineup updates. The Q&A segment provides personalized answers and reveals the depth of expertise in tackling fringe start/sit debates and roster management. The banter between Adam and Heath is practical, data-driven, and occasionally tongue-in-cheek, making it both informative and entertaining for managers looking to secure those Week 2 wins.

Transcript

[A]

Good morning, everybody. Let's get that injury update right now. Kind of said it singular for a reason on Fantasy Football Today Express. Well, we're happy because we don't have a lot of injuries to talk about, really. Brock Bowers is the main one. We have some other ones to discuss, but it's great, that's great news. There aren't a lot of question marks in the lineup, but Bowers is definitely the big name to talk about here. We're going to answer your questions as well on Fantasy Football Today Express. And here we go. Brock Bowers, questionable. Pete Carroll says, you know, says he's likely to play or expects him to play. I am not ready to take him at his word. Heath, I still think we need a backup plan here. What do you think about this Bauer situation Monday night against the Chargers?

[B]

Yeah, I think the Coach Speak index on Twitter had him at a 70% reliable ability rate, which isn't fantastic. Like, you don't really feel good about a one in three chance that a guy that's going to play at 10 o' clock on Monday night might play. But what I, I'm pretty optimistic just because it was almost like the very next day or immediately afterwards that they said it's not serious. We think he'll be fine. He got an extra day to rest. I did go in on several of my Bowers teams and add Michael Mayer, which is by far the easiest way to handle this. Because if you told me Bowers was out, Mayor would probably be a top six tight end for me this week. And so if you can do that, you don't even have to think about it. Just go add Michael Mayer, wait for Brock Bowers. If you can't, I'm afraid there's not really much that we can do to help you because it's entirely a risk tolerance situation. Like if Brock Bowers plays, I've got him projected to outscore everybody besides McBride by 3, 5, 6 fantasy points just in my projections. And he has the upside to outscore them by 15. So how, how much are you willing to take that chance? I'm not going to sit Brock Bowers.

[A]

I think the mayor's solution is, is really, you know, smart, 10% rostered. So go ahead and do that. Usually when a coach says I expect him to play, that's enough for me. But I don't know, I saw, I, I guess I saw one of the prominent doctors on X speculating that he's going to miss week two and it, and it is Pete Carroll and he's Just never been someone that you can take at his word. In fact, 70% seem seems high to me for the coach Speak index. So. All right, there you go. That's what the best thing to do is to pick up Michael Mayer. Juwan Jennings is expect and if you can't pick him up, you got to make the decision. So. Okay, sorry. So if you can't pick him up and you have tight end today versus Brock Bowers tomorrow, you're probably just playing Bowers, right?

[B]

I am now I think especially if you look at your game center and you're a 20 point favorite and you just want to play Harold Fannin or Juwan Johnson or somebody. I. That's perfectly fine. I just. You're giving up a lot of upside and you might feel really dumb if you're down by two points and your tight end scored eight. And then Brock Bowers is active and.

[A]

Three other options would be Tyler Conklin, Kate Otten who did not have a catch last week and Dalton Schultz. If someone already picked up Michael Mayer, you can get the other three tight ends who play on Monday night. Obviously they're probably not going to be very good, but maybe they get you five fantasy points or something like that and and can cover your bases in a sense in that way. Okay. Juwan Jennings is expected to play, but left tackle Trent Williams is going to be a game time decision for the 49ers at the New Orleans Saints. That is a one o' clock game. So we'll know early there any interest in starting Juwan Jennings and how much would the Trent Williams injury if he's out and again he. I have a. Did not have a good game in week one. But how, how much would that affect Ricky Piersol?

[B]

You know it's interesting because this game is already tied for the lowest over under of the week with Pittsburgh Seattle which after what Pittsburgh did in week one. That doesn't sounds kind of weird but it's going to be a low scoring kind of gross game if Juwan Jennings active and I, I haven't made that adjustment yet because I'd seen one thing that said game time decision. I'd seen one thing that said expected to play. If Jennings is active then I drop Pearsall down into the wide receiver 3 range, probably close to wide receiver 30 and Jennings would be quite a ways behind that. I'd call him a desperation flex at best.

[A]

Okay, we do have a report from ESPN's Mike Reese that the Patriots running back snap distribution could be changing in week two. Did you move Javante or Travion Henderson up in any, in any way?

[B]

Well, I didn't really move Trayvon Henderson down after last week's split. So I, I this was something that I think we all kind of expected. Mike Vrabel talked early in the week about how they have to get Henderson the ball in space more and how they have to get the run game fixed. I think Henderson is the the definition of a borderline number two running back with considerable upside.

[A]

Okay, we're going to take a break and we're going to give you some more news and notes right after this on FFT Express.

[B]

Charlie Sheen is an icon of Deca dence. I lit the fuse and my life turns into everything it wasn't supposed to be.

[A]

He's going the distance.

[B]

He was the highest paid TV star of all time. When it started to change, it was quick. He kept saying, no, no, no, I'm in the hospital now, but next week I'll be ready for the show. Now Charlie sober, he's gonna tell you the truth. How do I present this with any class?

[A]

I think we're past that, Charlie.

[B]

We're past that. Yeah. Somebody call action AKA Charlie Sheen now playing only on Netflix.

[A]

All right, welcome back, folks. So Quinton Judkins is going to play. He'll be on some sort of snap count. They're at Baltimore. What does this mean for the Browns running backs?

[B]

I think you can drop Jerome Ford. Dylan Sampson is right behind Trevion Henderson for me in that borderline RB2 with especially in PPR with upside down. Judkins is not in my top 36 running backs. I've got him right behind Nick Chubb. He could break one long run. But the other thing I'd said is expect him to play the snaps of a backup running back. So I, I don't think he's someone. He's someone you want to make sure is rostered, not someone you want to start. Samson a much better play and full PPR than anything else. I there was some report also that said Judkins could have 12 carries. It might be 12 snaps. I'm not sure if the Browns have 12 carries in this game.

[A]

Dallas Goddard's out. Devonte Smith CSCN.

[B]

You should start Devonte Smith. I, I probably don't have him as high as you would like for me to have him, but he is a top 24 wide receiver and someone you start as a number two wide receiver.

[A]

Okay. And Xavier Worthy out. We know that. So Marquis Brown or devonte Smith?

[B]

I would go with Devonte Smith. I have pretty low expectations for the Chief's offense today.

[A]

Okay. Marquis Brown, when he lined up outside, he was typically on the left side of the formation. I think that means he's going to be going against the Dory Jackson a lot, who really stunk, and I shouldn't say that. Struggled in Week one, so. Or he'll be in the slot, but he probably won't face the Eagles top cornerback too much. Darnell Mooney is gonna play. Yay. And so is Drake London. So what does this mean for Mooney and for Pitts?

[B]

I'm gonna, I'm kind of in a give Darnell Mooney a week mode. Another guy that I want to make sure is rostered, but I don't want to start him. He's not currently inside of my top 48 wide receivers.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But I do want to make sure he's rostered. Pitts went from, ooh, I might want to start him to. You know, I should probably have him on my bench just in case.

[A]

Okay. 77 rostered for darn Mooney. So would you start Juwan Jennings and and Harold Fannon Jr. Over Kyle Pitts? Juwan Johnson. Sorry.

[B]

Definitely Juwan Johnson. Man, I thought you were gonna say Juwan Jennings and Darnell Mooney. And those are two guys that I just don't think anybody should have any reasonable expectations for. I would start the two streaming tight ends over pits. Yes.

[A]

The look on your face when I.

[B]

Said you watch Juan Jennings versus Darnell Mooney. Projections, Heath. Go.

[A]

All right. And then the last thing Evan Ingram's gonna play. There was a report in the Denver Post that Tyler Bidet could have a big role in the passing game this week. So I hope that's not true, but.

[B]

Well, he had six. What do you mean? What do you have six targets last week?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And they picked up, like, four yards. We want to do that more.

[A]

Nice. Right? I don't know. I, I, I don't really have faith to start RJ Harvey yet. I'm just not at all. Yeah. Okay, Good. I'm glad I'm not alone. And if you're one of the 41% of CBS of players in CBS leagues or it's not the best way to say it. Young Wake, who is rostered in 41% of leagues, if you're one of those managers, he's benched today for Parker Romo, so don't start young. Way cool. Let's finish with some of your questions here. Oh, this is a great one to start with. Cam Ward or Spencer Rattler.

[B]

Are you serious right now? I. I don't have those guys in my rankings, so I'm gonna have to look in my projections. I have Spencer rattler projected for 16.1 points and cam point eight. We normally say flip a coin. Don't waste a quarter on it. Like, see if you have any pennies laying around. That's all I would put on that matchup.

[A]

All right, Jackson Daniels says start two of these four. David Montgomery, Javante Williams, Dylan Sampson, George Pickens, ppr.

[B]

So I. I'm a little bit lower on Montgomery, I know, than Dave is. I think he would actually be last of this group for me. Oh, I've got 12.3 points for Pickens, which is like identical to what I have for Samson and Javante. I would probably full ppr. Start Sampson and Pickens.

[A]

Tony Pollard or Cortland Sutton at flex. I'm gonna go with Pollard, Ken Walker, Javante, Williams.

[B]

I'll go Javante.

[A]

I need two in non ppr. Chub, Swift, Stevenson.

[B]

Definitely Swift. And I will go with. Oh, I'm gonna go with chubb.

[A]

And then two wide receivers in non PPR. Coleman, TMac, Olave.

[B]

Definitely TMac.

[A]

And I'll go Olave, Montgomery or Henderson. Full PPR.

[B]

Henderson for.

[A]

Traded RJ Harvey and Drake London for Rashi Rice and Trey McBride. Interesting.

[B]

I like that deal a lot better. As long as you're 1 0. Like, I think after after week two, I was. One of the things I planned on sending out and kind of a programmed message is if you're 2 0, go see if Rashi rice is available.

[A]

Shahid or Tillman, PPR.

[B]

Those guys are very close, but I'll.

[A]

Go Tillman, Jordan, Mason or Pitman?

[B]

Mason.

[A]

Just giving the music. I'm not giving the advice. Fields. Mason. Okay, Fields or Burrow. Four point per passing touchdown.

[B]

Ooh, four points. Obviously quite a big boost there for Fields, but I'll still take Burrow, K.

[A]

Sean Booty or Cedric Tillman. I'm gonna go with Dillman, Javante Williams or Devonte. Javante or Devonte Smith? Smith, Devonte Pickens or Juwan Johnson. Tight end premium ppr.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, it really depends on how many tight end premium points you're getting. If it's a full doubling, like if you get two points per tight end catch, I would go with Juwan Johnson. If it's 1.5, then I'd go Pickens.

[A]

Last one, Abuka or Pierce.

[B]

All is Juwan Jennings playing. You'll make this decision at about 11:30 this morning. If Juwan Jennings is active, I would go a buka if Juwan Jennings is out, I would go Pearsall.

[A]

Okay, thanks to Heath Cummings and all of you for watching and listening. 11:30am Eastern YouTube.com fantasy football today. We will see you there with more starter Sid advice later.

[B]

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